Holdup protection device



109. SAFES, BANK PROTECT Search AND RELATED DEVICES.

Dec. 20, 1932. Y 1', F, ROBINSQN L89L554 HOLDUP PROTECTION DEVICE FiledJune 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 109. SAFES, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATEDDEVICES.

Dec. 20, 1932. T. F. RoBiNSoN HOLDU? PROTECTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l2Filed June 8, 1951 w.. 5 www FU i luv. onrLo, Dr\l\|r\ VHUILbIIUN ANDRELATED DEVICES.

Patented Uec. zu, waa

PATENT OFFICE THOMAS F. ROBINSON, OF RYE, NEW' YORK HOLDfUP PROTECTIONDEVICE Application filed .Tune 8, 1931.

This invention relates to protective devices or apparatus for bankcages, cashiers booths and the like, for the purpose of guarding thetellers or cashiers against holdups and robberies.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple, compact and highlyeicient holdupprotec-tion apparatus designed for cashiers windows, bankcages and the like adapted to suddenly interpose a bullet proof curtainor screen between the robber and the occupants of the cage or window.

It is a further object to provide a device of the class describedwherein instantaneous operation of the protective curtains may beeffected by depressing a trip element which is conveniently accessiblethroughout a substantial portion of the interior of the cage or cashiersbooth and which is hidden from sight to persons located on the outside.

More specifically it is an object to provide protective apparatus of thetype described which will not require specially constructed tellerscounters, cages or cashiers booths and which utilizes a sectional orfolding bullet proof curtain which is collapsed compactly out of sightand nevertheless positioned most advantageously for instantaneousoperation and protection.

Prior to this time a number of protective devices for banks have beendesigned but these for the most part have been impractical, due usually,to complicated mountings and actuating mechanisms or due to danger tothe cashier or teller in the event that the tripis inadvertentlyoperated.

Most of such devices utilize a heavy panel or plate which is droppedfrom above or swung across the grating of the cage above the counterthus giving the robber an opportunity to project a bar or otherimplement through the grating to prevent the interposition of theprotective member.

With my device the bullet proof curtain is suddenly and unexpectedlythrust up from Serial N o. 542,818.

the counter. It has only a short distance to travel and the weight orinertia of the curtain is overcome, as will later more fully appear, bythe combinations of the actuating means with the sectional or foldingstructure. It is impossible for the robber to project a bar and obtainany leverage upon the moving or free edge of the curtain.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemore fully set forth in the following description made in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters referto similar parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. l is avertical section showing from the inside, in elevation, a conventionaltellers counter and cage having applied thereto the preferred form o-fmy protective apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 65 2-2 of Fig. 1, the dottedlines indicating the projected or operative position of the bullet proofcurtain;

Fig. 3 yis a detail cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1showing the tripping ele- 70 ments controlled by the elongated rail;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section take on a line traversing the inner ends ofthe trip levers and showing my trip release mechanism and the weightsfor operating the curtain actuating rods;

Fig. 5 is a detail section showing an end elevation of a suitable formof bullet proof curtain disposed in the collapsed position substantiallyflush with the counter;

Fig. 6 is al detail view showing my protective curtain in the raised oroperative position, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section showing a somewhat different form ofthe invention.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive myprotective apparatus is shown as associated with a conventional type ofbank cage having the counter 8 which eX- tends longitudinally of thecage and forms a 90 table, as shown, for two tellers. The lower frontportion of the counter is covered with the usual vertical wall orwainscoating 9 constructed of sto-ne, metal or other bullet proofmaterial. A grating G is secured to vertical posts 10 and extends fromthe top of the counter upwardly for a distance, usually five or sixfeet, and as shown, A,is provided with two windows 11 for convenience inhandling deposits, currency, etc.

In this form of the invention the conventional counter and cageconstruction can be utilized with the exception that the counter ortable top must have a widely rabbeted or recessed surface 8a extendinglongitudinally thereof and from the inner edge to a line medial of itswidth for accommodating my folded bullet proof curtain C. Recess 8a ismade of such depth that the ton or upper section of the curtain whenfolded will be disposed iiush with the unrecessed portion of the countertop.

Curtain C, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a series ofelongated rectangular plates 12 hinged together along their longitudinaledges by suitable hinges 13, the leaves of which are attached to thesuccessive plates in such manner that the plates may be foldedrevers-ely one upon the other to form a compact rectangular block, asshown in Fig. 5. The lower plate is secured to the rabbeted portion 8aof the counter by hinges 14.

A cross rod 15 is rigidly secured to the free edge of the uppermostplate 12 and has projecting ends 15a which are connected with the upperends o-f heavy vertical actuating rods 16 slidably disposed in tubularguides 17 which may be secured to side portions of the counter or tableand also to the iioor at their lower ends. Rods 16, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, project through the loor F of the building and are of adequatelength to completely unfold and project upwardly the folding curtain tothe dotted position shown in Fig. 2. A separate curtain and actuatingrods are preferably provided for each of the windows and it will beobvious that regardless of whether the windows lie in the same plane orat off-sets or angles, my device will be equally applicable.

A flexible element such as a cable 18 is connected with the lower end ofeach of the rods 16 and passes over a guide or pulley 19 which may beconveniently attached to one of the side portions of the counter ortable 8. A heavy weight 20 is secured to the bight of each of the cables18 and preferably is suspended below floor F in non-obstructingposition.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, weights 20 and actuating rods 16 arenormally held in position to raise curtain C by means of trip actuatedhorizontal plungers 21 which crimp and press portions of the flexibleelements or cables 18 into recessed seats 22a provided by suitable floorboards 22. Plungers 21 are slidably mounted in sleeved brackets 23 whichmay be secured to the floor F and are thrust outwardly against seats 22aby suitable means having incorporated therein a trip actuated releaseelement. The form of this mechanism shown comprises for each curtain apair of axially aligned horizontal retaining plungers 21 held outwardlyand apart by means of an adjustable tensioning device, such as a turnbuckle 24, which engages the thread. ed inner ends of thrust rods 25.Interposed between the outer ends of one of said thrust rods and theinner ends of one of said retaining plungers is a trip spacer 26 whichmay comprise simply a cylindrical member having fiat or if desired,slightly recessed abutment ends and provided with an eye 26a to which aiexible member such as a cable 27 is attached. A trip lever 28 (bestshown in Figs. 2 and 3) is mounted in a suitable bracket 28a justrearwardly of each of the trip spacers 26 and the working end thereofunderlies the corresponding spacer member while the rearward and longerend thereof is connected with a foot rail 29. In the embodiments of theinvention illustrated a separate foot rail 29 is provided for each ofthe curtains utilized. Vith this construction my apparatus may beinstalled in bank cages and cashiers booths where a plurality of windowsare provided, angled or off-set with respect to each other. The cables27 of the several curtain operating mechanisms are all connected by acommon cable or flexible member 30 with a heavy master weight 31 whichas shown is suspended below the floor F of the building. In Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings a cage having only two windows is shown, but it will,of Course, be understood that my apparatus may be utilized in large bankcages where a great number of tellers windows are provided, several ofwhich are angled or offset with respect to others. In every instancewhere more than one curtain is used the weights of the foot rails 29 andmaster weight 31 are such that when proper tension is placed upon theretaining plungers 21 by adjusting turn buckles 24, the power of themaster weight and foot rails will be slightly more than matched by thetension placed upon the retaining plungers 21. The weight of the masterweight and foot rails, however, is more than adequate to instantly c utout or release the several remaining trip spacers 26 when one thereofhas been displaced by swinging one of the trip levers 28.

0 peratz'oa Assuming the apparatus to be set as shown in the drawings,if a holdup is attempted the cashier or teller behind the counter merelysteps on one of the foot rails 29. This, of

109. SAFES,

BANK Il'UlllU I IUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

heerste.v

course, cannot be noticed by the robber inasmuch as the rail is entirelyhidden from the outside. The depression of one foot rail immediately,through the swinging movement of tripping lever 28, dislodges one of thetripping spacers 26 whereupon the master weight 31 has sufficient powerto instantly disconnect or cut out all of the spacers 26 for all thecurtains. The action is practically instantaneous and the curtainoperating weights 20 immediately drop, suddenly raising the heavyvertical rods 16 to which the upper plates of the several curtains areattached.

The curtains rise very rapidly due to the fact that they are constructedsectionally and that the inertia of only the top leaf has to beovercome. This is a very important factor in the successful operation ofmy device and in actual practice the curtains are thrown upwardly almostinstantaneously upon actuation of the foot rail. The invention of courseis equally applicable for cages or cashiers booths for a single windowor a large number of windows offset, one from the other, and in thelatter instance the actuation or depression of any one of the rails 29for the various windows will instantly effect the operation of all thecurtains. Thus in a large bank any teller or person standing behind thecage may depress the particular foot rail adjacent his position and inso doing operate instantly all bullet proof curtains in the cage. Theactuating and moving parts of the device for the most part areconveniently disposed below the floor and will not obstruct, to anyappreciable extent, the space beneath the counters and cage drawers.

It will be noted that the curtain is unexpectedly raised from theintermediate portion of the counter forming a barrier spaced somedistance from the grating. In operation therefore the space directlyabove the top ofthe counter is first protected by the curtain ascontrasted with other protective devices where the curtain drops fromabove leaving a space through which the robber can shoot until thecurtain is completely closed. The initial movement of the curtainactuating mechanism obviously produces a swinging action upon the twoupper leaves or plates of the Curtain and even though the cashiers ortellers hands are disposed on the counter he will not be injured as saidswinging movement will throw the arms or hands inwardly out of the Wayof the upwardly moving edge of the curtain.

The top leaf or plate is preferably extended at its free edge tosubstantially register with the unrabbeted outer portion of the counterand may be veneered or finished to closely resemble the rest of thecounter top, whereby the presence of the apparatus cannot be observedfrom outside of the cage.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is essentially similarto the preferred form previously described with the exception, however,that the actuating mechanism is entirely disposed above the level of thefloor F.

In this form the curtain C is identical with the curtain in the formpreviously described, but the actuating means comprises for each curtaina pair of cables 33 'secured at their lower ends to the projecting endsof the cross rod 15 which is rigidly secured to the upper leaf or plateof the curtain. Cables 33 pass over guide pulleys 34 which areconveniently mounted in the top of hollow columns or frame members 35provided at the sides of each window of the cage. The operating weight36 is suspended within the hollow column and the trip mechanism andmaster weight including the trip spacers 26, retaining plungers 21 andturn buckle 24 and thrust rods 25 are identical with the form of theinvention first described. The master weight will of course have to bepositioned above the floor, suitably supported from beneath the counteror if desired in one of the hollow columns 35.

Upon operation of the foot rail o1 where a series of windows areprovided with my apparatus, of any foot rail, several trip spacers 26are instantly cut out or displaced and the operating weights 36instantly raise the curtain into vertical position between the gratingand the inside of the cage.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided asimple, compact and highly eliicient protective device for banks andcashiers booths adapted to be instantly operated and capable of beingmanufactured at relatively low cost.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details7 proportions and arrangement of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention, which, generally stated,consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forthand in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed s:-

1. In protective apparatus of the class described, a bullet-proofcurtain, means for anchoring the lower edge of said curtain to asupport, weight-actuated means connected with the upper edge of saidcurtain for suddenly raising the same into vertical position, a pair ofhorizontally extending retaining elements for retaining said weights inposition to operate, thrust elements interposed between said retainingelements for holding the same apart in operative retaining position,said thrust elements including a removable spacer and means fordislodging said spacer to operate said curtain.

2. In combination with a cage having a counter and a series of windowsor divisions therein, holdup protection apparatus comprising for eachwindow or division, a bullet-proof curtain, weight operated actuatingmeans for each of said curtains and trip mechanism for each of saidactuating means, said trip mechanisms comprising retaining elementsengaging the supporting means for said weights, trip spacers held undertension against said retaining elements, and a master weight connectedwith said several trip spacers for immediately releasing or disengagingthe remaining trip spacers after one thereof has been manually released.

3. In combination with a cage having a series of windows or divisionstherein, holdup protection apparatus comprising for each window ordivision, a curtain constructed from a series of plates hinged togetherfor collapsing, one upon the other in compact form, a horizontal supportfor holding said curtain when completely collapsed, means for anchoringthe lower edge of said curtain to said support, vertically disposedactuating means connected to the upper end of said curtain, weights,connections between said weights and said actuating means to urge saidactuating means upward for suddenly raising said curtain into verticalposition, a pair of horizontally extending retaining elements forretaining said weights in position to operate, thrust elementsinterposed between said retaining elements for holding the same apart inoperative retaining position, said thrust elements including a removabletrip spacer and means for dislodging said spacer to operate saidcurtain, and a master weight connected with said several trip spacersfor immediately releasing or disengaging the remaining trip spacersafter one thereof has been manually released, said curtain in its raisedposition being substantially spaced from the window.

4l. In combination with a cage having a counter and a window therein,holdup protection apparatus comprising a bullet proof curtainconstructed from a series of plates hinged together for collapsing, oneupon the other in compact form, a horizontal support for holding saidcurtain when completely collapsed, means for anchoring the lower edge ofsaid curtain to said support, vertically disposed rods, the upper endsof said rods being connected to the upper edge of said curtain, andmeans for projecting said rods upward to raise said curtain intovertical p0- sition.

5. In combination with a cage having a series of windows or divisionstherein, hold up protection apparatus comprising a bullet proof curtainfor each window, actuating means connected to said curtain, weights,flexible connections between said weights and said actuating means foroperation thereof to cause movement of said curtain into opera-

